3 accused of defrauding food program LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Three Arkansas women conspired to defraud a program that feeds low-income children around the state by inflating the number of meals that were served, a federal grand jury said in an indictment unsealed Thursday. Jacqueline Mills, Gladys King and Tonique Hatton were charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to fraudulently obtain United States Department of Agriculture program funds. Additionally Mills, who ran at-risk afte...

Russellville City Council OKs stipend for employeesThe Russellville City Council approved an end-of-year stipend for all full-time employees totaling $178,273.75 and will consider a cost-of-living increase in May of next year. After a Finance Committee meeting that lasted nearly an hour and a half, aldermen asked Finance Director Jerry McKaughan about the possibilities of giving employees a 2.5 percent raise instead of a stipend. Mayor Bill Eaton said he and McKaughan agreed that if raises wer...

Model Medicaid experiment in jeopardy LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas became the first Southern state to expand its Medicaid program in a way that many Republicans found acceptable. The state bought private insurance for low-income people instead of adding them to the rolls of the Medicaid system, which GOP lawmakers considered bloated and inefficient. Now Arkansas could be on the brink of another distinction: becoming the first to abandon its Medicaid expansion after giving coverage ...

Arkansas State names Shane Broadway vice president LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education was named Wednesday as vice president for governmental relations for the Arkansas State University System. ASU System President Charles Welch said Shane Broadway, a former member of both the Arkansas House and Senate, will succeed Robert Evans, who is retiring. "Shane brings to us an ideal blend of experience as a former legislator who is very knowledgeable about hi...

Gov.-elect names new leader of National Guard LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Gov-Elect Asa Hutchinson has named Brigadier Gen. Mark Berry of Ozark as the new Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard. Berry is currently chief of staff for the Arkansas Air National Guard. Hutchinson's office said in a news release that this is the first time in memory that the Arkansas Adjutant General has been appointed from the Air Force. Berry has more than 40 years military experience, having enlisted in the...

Gov-elect makes insurance, correction appointments LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Gov-elect Asa Hutchinson has announced that state Rep. Allen Kerr will be the new state Insurance Commissioner and Sheila Sharp will remain as director of the Department of Community Correction. Hutchinson cited Kerr's experience in the Legislature and knowledge of the insurance industry. He said Kerr will bring a "fresh look" to the department. Kerr will replace current Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford. Hutchinson also p...

Purple Heart possible for soldiers in LR shooting LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The recently passed Defense Authorization Bill includes a provision allowing the Purple Heart to be awarded to two Arkansas soldiers who were shot outside a military recruiting station in Little Rock. The provision supported by Sens. Mark Pryor and John Boozman authorizes the Purple Heart to members of the military killed or wounded in an attack that specifically targets them because they are a member of the U.S. Armed Force...

Little Rock officers contest shooting suit ruling ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two Little Rock police officers asked a federal appeals court Thursday to dismiss them from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a man killed in his apartment, a case the victim's son has likened to the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The off-duty officer and a colleague were working private security for an apartment complex when one of them fatally shot 67-year-old Eugene Ellison in December 2010. The offi...

AG offers safety tips for the holidays LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is urging Arkansans to make safety a priority as they decorate their homes for the holidays. McDaniel has issued a consumer alert to help residents remain injury free as they string lights on rooftops and light festive candles. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year during November and December, more than 14,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms due to...

City to consider 2.5 percent raisesThe Russellville City Council Finance Committee tabled discussion of a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase for full-time city employees during its regular meeting Tuesday. Aldermen asked department heads at the meeting if there was a way to include employee raises without increasing their proposed 2015 budgets. "It's going to be quite a challenge for us to forecast this," Fire Chief John Cochran said. He added that departments are working with...

AG announces plans to start law firm LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Outgoing Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced Wednesday that he's starting a private law firm with two of his top assistants when he leaves office next month. The two-term Democrat said he'll be working with Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Richardson and Assistant Attorney General Bart Calhoun to launch the new Little Rock-based law firm. The firm will also have offices in Jonesboro and Washington, D.C...

Beebe says he's still opposed to gay marriage LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he remains opposed to same-sex marriage despite recent rulings against his state's ban, but said he has eased his opposition to civil unions. The two-term Democratic governor said he has shifted on some gay-rights issues, but still believes marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. A federal judge last month struck down Arkansas' ban on gay marriage, and the st...

Gov.-elect Hutchinson inauguration plans announced LITTLE ROCK (AP) — There will be a two-day inauguration celebration in Little Rock for Arkansas Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson. Events begin Monday, Jan. 12 and culminate with an inaugural ball on Jan. 13. An inaugural party will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Museum of Discovery. An inaugural church service will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Immanuel Baptist Church followed by Hutchinson taking the oath of office at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber of the...

Ex-Harrison housing director's records subpoenaed HARRISON (AP) — Harrison police have taken records of the city's former housing authority director. The Harrison Daily Times reported current Housing Authority Director Chonda Tapley told the authority's board that police served a search warrant at the agency's office on Thursday for records of former director Derek White. Police Chief Paul Woodruff said the warrant is part of an investigation into a reported theft from the agency. Both Woodru...

Report says Arkansas lottery hampered by mistrust LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' lottery offers too many games, pays more to its vendors than comparable states and suffers from mistrust from the public dating back to its launch five years ago, a consultant hired to review the games told lawmakers on Friday. Camelot Global Services, the firm legislators hired to review the lottery and recommend ways to boost its lagging sales, said the lottery can make changes that would increase its annual sale...

Beebe formally announces intent to pardon son LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe took the first official step Friday toward pardoning his son for a felony marijuana conviction 11 years ago, a move he's defended as no different from the second chance he has given other offenders. The two-term Democratic governor formally announced his intent to pardon his 34-year-old son Kyle, who was convicted in 2003 of marijuana possession with intent to deliver. The move kicks off a 3...

Jonesboro police chief wants to hire mayor's son JONESBORO (AP) — Some members of the Jonesboro City Council expressed concern after learning that one of the mayor's sons was in line for a new job that the council agreed to create this week. Council members voted Tuesday to create the position and set a salary scale. Part of the job requires verifying where convicted sex offenders live and notifying neighbors, which caused some aldermen to question whether it was wise to hire a civilian into...

Bill Clinton touts impact of his library LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said he always wanted his library and museum to show visitors that elections have consequences and encourage them to get involved, a vision he reflected on Thursday as he touted the 10-year-old center as a model for how people can work together to improve the economy. Speaking at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting, the 42nd president and former Arkansas governor said h...

Three file for District 16 seatThree Pope County men filed to run for the State Senate District 16 seat being vacated by Michael Lamoureux. Gregory B. Standridge and Thomas Akin, both of Russellville, and Stan Berry of Dover filed for the seat by the 5 p.m. deadline on Monday. All three candidates are Republicans. No candidates from other parties filed for the seat before the deadline. District 16 encompasses Newton and Pope counties and parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Bure...

Dover agrees to postpone electionDOVER — The Dover Board of Education approved changing the date of the district's special election for a proposed millage increase during a called meeting Monday. Pope County Election Coordinator Sherry Polsgrove and commissioners Portia Short and Carol Shoptaw attended the meeting to request the board change the election date after Gov. Mike Beebe set the runoff election for Arkansas Senate District 16 seat on the same date — Feb. 10, 2015. P...